Latch



H. TAYLOR LATCH Nov. 10, 1942A.

File March 4, 1941 Patented Nav'. 1o, 1942 UNITED STATES yPATENT OFFICE lHa-l'l'y Taylor, West `BabylonyN. Y.

1941, Serial N0.- 381,634

Application March 4, 9 Claii'ns.

'I'he present invention relates to a latching der' vice and particularly to a latching device for attaching covers or panels of sheet metal.

In making Vsemi-permanent, -yet detachable closures Aor openings in airplane, automobile bodies and in sheet metal closures fo othermachines or mechanisms. considerable culty has been experiencedin making a latch which would not substantially protrude and which, at the same time would rmly hold the closure in position,

regardless of continued stress and strain and varying expansion and contractions of the body to which the closure'might be attached.

A particular dilculty is experienced in airplane closures where it was desired to reduce air resistance to a minimum and where the closure Y V must remain iirrnly in position and be readily deywithout the structure, and which will not protrude so as to 'cause air resistance in connection with an airplane, and which willbe reliable and positive in its action, and which may be readily `manipulated for attachment or detachment of the closure from the opening.

Still further objects Vand advantages will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, howeverr that this more detailed description is given by way of be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

In accomplishing the above objects. it has been found most satisfactory to provide a key member on one of the plates and preferably on the cover plate, and to vprovide a return bent spring memyplate latched together.

drawing is merely by way oi' illustration and not by way of limitation:

Fig. l is a rear plan view of the locking device of the present invention, somewhat larger than actual size, showing the cover plate and the 'base Fig. 2 is a similar rear plan view with the key member unlatched or unlocked position, but with the key shown in the position which it will take before it has been turned to latch the plates together, or after them.

it has been turned to unlatch vFigs. 3 and-4 are respectively transverse sec-'- tional'views upon the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

I ment, Fig. 6 being a rear plan view similar to Fig.

p illustration since'various changes therein may ber on the other plate to engage said key mem" ber. v

In the preferred embodiment, the key member has a projecting flnger or lip and a .cylin drical base. which base is inserted into, and held in position by a dimpled connection to the cover plate.'

The key member is iitted inside of semi-circular sections of the return bent piece of wire. The iinger in turn, cooperates with a hump or protuberance on the base to engage and snap over a connecting element of said return bent pieceof resilient wire, particularly the 'portion thereof which connects the semi-circular portions thereof.

Referring to the drawing which illustrates several of the various possible embodiments oi the present invention, but to which the present invention is by no ymeans restricted since the l, and Eig. 'I being a transverse sectional view upon the lines 'I-l of Fig. 6.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate still another embodiment, Fig. 8 being a rear plan lview similar to f Figs. 7 and l, and Fig. 9 being a transverse sec-l tional view upon the line 9'-8 of Fig.'8. Referring to Figs. 1 td 5, the cover plate A car' ries a key B, While the base plate C carries al latching spring D.

The cover plateA is Adimpled as indicated at I0 vand iits into the groove II formed between the ridge I2 and the head I3 of the key B.

The head I3 is provided with a llister slot I4 lto enable the key B to be turned from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2 or vice versa.

The cylindrical shank I5 projects beyond'the ridge I2 and is provided with an overhanging ng'er I5 connected by the neck I1 to the shank I5. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the fingerv I6 has a semi-circular outside face I8 and a straight cut inside face III, short of the axis 20 of the key ,Ba

`As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, both the top face 2| and the lower face 22 of the iinger IB curve together to the. point 23, while the outer portion oi the face 22 extends downwardly as indicated best at Min Fig. 4. On-the base 25 of the shank I5 there is a projecting portion 26, having a curved camming surface 2 l and a relatively steep shoulder portion 28. if In respect to the base plate C, this plate has a main section 29, a Vsuper-imposed section 30, having an' opening 3|, the periphery 32 of which is bulged or dimpled outwardly to conform to the l bulge or dimple I0 of the cover plate A.

- Extending diametrically over the opening 3l is the cross bar 33 vforming part of the spring D. The cross bar 33 is connected at its ends 34 with the semi-circular portions 25,'which terminate in the loops of circular terminal portions 3i which are riveted at 3l to the plate 30. It will be noted by ,reference to Fig. 3 that the cross bar 33, as

well asthe" portions of the semi-circular elements 35-adjacent the bends 34 lie in a plane substantially on the same level as the face 25 of the Shank I5.

It will be noted that thehead I3 has a curved bottom face 38, which iits closely against the dimpled portion'l of the plate A.

linV operation, the key B is inserted into position as indicated in Fig. 2, with the iinger IE fiting coinciding openings, a key having a shelf with a locking boss, an overhanging-.Jhook member `exitending outwardly from one side of saidkey and ting between the cross bar 33 and one of the semi-circular sections 35.' 'Ifhen the'key may be" 1 turned by insertion of a toolin the slot. When this occurs, the ringer I6 will move in a direction 38 over one side of the bar 33, forcing it downwardly until the bar snaps in back of the shoulder 28l and fits against the neck as best shown in Fig, 3. When this connection has been made, the plates A and C will be held rigidly together against accidental displacement and there will be no rattling or loosening vof `the cover plate A upon the base plate C. Y

-In assembling, the spring D may-be readily"` mounted upon the plate C by the rivets 31. while the key B` may be readily mounted kupon the plate A. I v Y It is thus apparent that the applicant has provided a simple inexpensive latch construction which is reliable and eiectivein its action.

In the alternative construction of Figs. 6 and extending over said shelf, said hook member bekey carried in one opening and a spring carried in the other opening, said spring having endrportions riveted to""theplate to which it is attached and having semi-circular portions extendingaround the periphery of said opening and a cross bar extending diametricallyi-across:said Aopening connecting vsaid semi-'circular portionstogeth 5. A latching device for twoyplates'fcomprisin i akey on oneplate and awirespringonithe other plate, saidspring including across bar portion.

'7, similarly functioningparts being designated by the same numerals primed, the cross bar 33' is placed to one side of the axis'Z, `while the inside face I9' of the finger I6' extends' across the axis 2D', and is in the plane of a diameter of the shank30'. This construction will give'more l i. metal to the neck-I1' and makeit muchstronger.

In'the embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 the key B2 is providedwith a double overhanging iinger |62, the space 60 between the overhanging fingers |52 being suicient to receive the cross bar 332. It will be noted that under each overhanging finger |62 there is provided a projecting portion 262 overwhich the cross bar 332 snaps.

It is apparent the --specific illustrations shown above have been given by wayof illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structures above described are-subject to wide variation and modication without departing from the scope or intent of the invention, all. of which variations and modications are to be included I within the'scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a latch construction, a key having a shelf with a locking boss, an overhanging hook mem- .ber extending outwardly from one side of said key and extending over said shelf and a resilient member'having a semi-circular portion and a cross bar respectively to hold said hook member .in position and to engage said hook member,

' said locking boss engagingsaid cross `bar to the key 4in latched position.

K' v2. In a latch construction, a. key having an overhanging hook member` and a resilient mmber having a semi-circular portion encircling said key and a cross bar respectively tohold said hook member in position and to engage said hook lock` and two semi-'circular portions connected byfsaid; cross bar and said key havinga cylindrical;por.1=-

tion engaging -said semi-circular portions and aI hook member engaging said cross bar. Y

6. A fastening device -for two parts having cooperating openings, ,said parts carryingva turning key with an overhanging hook member and a fined wire spring havingsemi-circular'portions,

said -semi-circular portions encircling said key, ,and holding it in position -and a connecting cross bar, said kkey engaging said-spring to .fastensaid parts together.

'7.- A latching devicecomprising two plates `to be latched together withv matchingopeningsfa key carried in one opening and a spring carried in the other opening, said spring having semicircular portions extending aroundthe periphery of "said opening and a cross barv extending di- A' cfg-said opening and a cross bar extending di-y ametrically across said opening connecting said' ametrically across said opening connecting said semi-circular portions together,.said key having a shelf with a locking boss, and an overhang'ing hook member extending upwardly from one-side 'of said key, and extending over said shelf, and

said locking boss ergaging said cross-bar to lock said key in latched position.

v,851i latching devicefcomprising two plates` tobe latched together with matching openings,.fa' key carried in one opening and a. spring carried in the other opening, said spring havingl semi-l circular portions extending around the periphery.

.l semi-circular` portions together, said key having overhanging hook members extendingirom opmember, said overhanging finger being also provided with -an underlying projecting portion to snap under said cross bar.

` 3. In a'. latch construction fortwo plates havposite sides of said key, and spaced apart sufciently to receive said `cross bar, saidv space between said overhanging hookqmembers-extendv ing transversely across the endd'of said key.

9. A latching device for two plates compris-v ing a. key on one plate and a wire spring" on [the other plate, s'aid' spring including a cross bari portion and twosemi-circular portions4 connected" by said cross bar and said key having a cylindrical portion engaging said semi-circular.portions and a hook memberengaging said ,cros's hat; and 'a' locking boss positioned on said key below said hook member to lock said key in latched posi' tion. y

f- HARRY Tanon. 

